王阳明学圣，以格物致知追求光明

Bamboo's Enlightment&Pursuing by Heart

此心光明

THE HEART OF BRIGHTNESS

23.在明代读书人心目中，朱熹被认为是继孔子、孟子之后的最伟大的圣贤。王阳明怀抱『做圣贤』的理想，开始研读朱熹的著作，对朱熹提出的『格物致知』一说十分相信。『格物』，就是要与事物『面对面』；『致知』，就是要弄明白一个具体事物的道理，最终达到无所不知的境界。

23.In the minds of the scholars in the Ming Dynasty，Zhu Xi was regarded as the greatest sage after Confucius and Mencius.Wang Yangming began to read Zhu Xi's works in order to be a sage.He did believe the theory“Study the nature of things”proposed by Zhu Xi.“Gewu”means the investigation and research of things that require facing the things，while“Zhizhi”is to gain knowledge that refers to getting the nature of objects and to know everything eventually.

24.当时，王阳明与一位姓钱的朋友志同道合，都立志要成为『圣人』。王阳明指着父亲王华官府内的一丛竹子说：『要格物做圣人，就从这丛竹子开始吧。你先去格格这竹子看，看这竹子里面包含着怎样的天理。』

24.At that time，Wang Yangming and a friend surnamed Qian had a common goal of becoming sages.Pointing at the clump of bamboos in the official curtilage where his father worked，Wang Yangming said，“You can start by investigating the bamboos to be a sage，and then you will have to see the nature of the bamboos.”

25.于是，这位姓钱的朋友就去『格』这竹子，整天茶饭不思，两眼紧盯竹丛，心中反复思索，不停地与这竹子『面对面』地『格』。如此这般『格』了三天，结果积劳成疾，病倒了。

25.Consequently，Qian started to investigate the bamboos.All day long without having meals or tea，he didn't think about anything else.His eyes were fixed on the bamboo grove，thinking about the nature of them.Three days later，he finally became ill because of fatigue.

26.于是，王阳明亲自上阵，渴望从竹丛中探求到自然的规律。他『格』了七天七夜。结果，不但没有『格』出竹子的奥秘，反而『格』得精疲力尽，躺倒在床，生了一场大病。

26.Therefore，Wang Yangming decided to do it by himself，longing for studying the natural rules from observing the bamboo grove.He studied for seven days and nights.As a result，not only did he fail to explore the mystery of the theory out of the bamboos，but it also made him exhausted.A serious illness kept him in bed for a long time.

27.『格竹子』的失败，并没有改变王阳明要做圣贤的决心，反而使他开始怀疑朱熹学说的正确性。他感觉到朱熹的『格物』之说不是通往圣人境界的平坦大道，必须另辟蹊径。路在何方？.王阳明整日苦闷彷徨，郁郁寡欢。

27.The failure of practicing the Confucianism by staring at the bamboo grove and finding the nature of everything did not wear Wang Yangming down.He still wished to be a sage，but began to doubt the accuracy of Zhu Xi's theory.He sensed that the theory of Zhu Xi was not the right path leading to the ideal state of a sage，so he had to find another approach.“Where is the road？”，Wang Yangming was thinking of the question in anguish day after day.

28.父亲和祖父都极为担心，生怕王阳明胡思乱想，不务正业，于是就想给他娶个媳妇。早在王阳明十四五岁时，王华结识了在京城做官的同乡好友诸让。诸让有两个女儿，都长得如花似玉。诸让将长女诸婉龄许嫁给王阳明。

28.His father and grandfather were extremely worried and afraid that Wang Yangming would become lost in fantasies rather than pay attention to the proper business.Thus they grabbed opportunities to matchmake him.When he was around 14 and 15，Wang Hua，his father，got acquainted with a fellow villager，Zhu Rang，who was also a politician in the court in Beijing.He had two daughters，and both were as beautiful as flowers.Later，Zhu Rang decided to wed his elder daughter Zhu Wanling to Wang Yangming.

29.弘治元年（1488），王阳明刚好17岁。诸让写信给王华，要王阳明到南昌来成亲。诸让见王阳明少年才俊，风流倜傥，十分欢喜。谁知就在洞房花烛之夜，新郎王阳明却失踪了。新娘诸氏不明就里，只好孤身独坐床沿，暗暗哭泣。

29.In the first Ming Hongzhi's reign year（1488），Wang Yangming was just 17 years old.Zhu Rang wrote a letter to Wang Hua，asking Wang Yangming to get married to his daughter in Nanchang，Jiangxi Province.When they met，Zhu Rang was quite satisfied with Wang Yangming，the talented and handsome young man.However，on the night of the wedding day，the bridegroom，Wang Yangming，disappeared.Having no idea what happened，the bride had no choice but to sit alone on the edge of the bed，crying by herself.

30.岳父诸让得知新郎失踪一事，心中焦急，立即派人四处寻找。第二天一大早，当太阳已经高高升起时，家人们突然发现王阳明面带微笑，怡然自得地回来了。昨晚他究竟去哪里了呢？

30.Zhu Rang，the father-in-law was informed of the disappearance of the bridegroom.He was anxious and sent servants to search for Wang Yangming immediately.Early in the next morning，when the sun had risen up，the family suddenly found Wang Yangming returned home with smile.Where on earth did he go last night？

31.原来，王阳明一来到南昌，就听说南昌来了一位学问渊博的四川道士，借住在南昌城内的铁柱宫。机不可失，王阳明就偷偷溜出洞房，只身来到铁柱宫。在卧榻前与四川道士相对而坐，请教有关道家的养生之学，谈论道家哲理。两人相谈投机，竟忘记了时间，以致彻夜未归。

31.It turned out that Wang Yangming went to visit a prominent and knowledgeable Sichuan Taoist.Wang Yangming heard of this Taoist when he just arrived in Nanchang.The wise Taoist stayed in the Tiezhu Palace in Nanchang.Such a chance must not be missed，Wang Yangming sneaked out of his bridal chamber and went to the Tiezhu Palace alone.He was sitting and talking with the Taoist about the theory of Taoism and the way of health preserving.They had a most agreeable discussion so that they even forgot the passing of time.That was the reason why Wang Yangming had not returned for the whole night.

32.婚后，王阳明在岳父家里度过了一年半时间。王阳明潜心书法，用心写字。他以书圣王羲之《圣教序》法帖入手，再多方汲取虞世南、欧阳询、柳公权等多位书家的笔意，融高贵、自由、儒雅、放逸于一体，书法日有进步。他总结说：『做任何事情，都必须用心去学，此心精明，练习书法也就在其中了。』

32.After the wedding，Wang Yangming spent a year and a half in his father-in-law's home.He started to devote himself to calligraphy，writing Chinese characters by heart.He started with the calligraphy copybook，“Preface to Shengjiao”，written by the Saint of Calligraphy，Wang Xizhi.Then Wang Yangming drew various calligraphy styles from Yu Shinan，Ouyang Xun，Liu Gongquan，etc.，combining dignity，freedom，elegance and ease together.Great advances in his calligraphy had been made.Wang Yangming concluded that everything had to be learned by heart.Once the heart understood and mastered the skill，things like practicing calligraphy were easy to do.(www.xing528.com)

33.第二年的十二月，王阳明带着夫人诸氏回余姚。当船经过广信（今江西上饶）时，他听说著名理学家娄谅就居住在这里，随即弃舟登岸拜见，向娄先生讨教有关宋代儒学中『格物致知』的学理。娄先生也认为圣人不仅是可以学的，而且是可以达到的。这使王阳明进一步坚定了『读书学做圣人』的人生信念。

33.In December of the following year，Wang Yangming returned to Yuyao with his wife.When the ferryboat was passing by Guangxin（Shangrao，Jiangxi Province），he heard that the famous Neo-Confucianism Lou Liang was living here，so he went off the boat and visited Mr.Lou.He asked Mr.Lou for advice of the theory of studying phenomena to acquire knowledge from the Confucianism during the Song Dynasty.Mr.Lou also believed that one could learn to be a sage and it was achievable.It reaffirmed Wang Yangming's belief of life，which was to study hard and to learn how to be a sage.

34.王阳明回到余姚老家瑞云楼时，祖父竹轩先生王伦已经重病在身，卧床不起。弘治三年（1490）正月，王伦病逝。按照古代礼仪，父母病死，凡做官的必须向皇帝请假三年，回家守丧，称之为『丁忧』。王华于是速回余姚奔丧，在忙完丧事趁『丁忧』在家之际，严厉督促儿子王阳明的学业。

34.When Wang Yangming went back home to Ruiyun Pavilion in his hometown Yuyao，his grandfather，Wang Lun，was seriously ill and bedridden.In the first lunar month of the third Ming Hongzhi's reign year（1490），Wang Lun passed away.According to the ancient etiquette，after the death of a parent，the official in the court had to ask for three years'permission from the emperor to go home for waking and mourning，which was called Ding You.Wang Hua rushed back to Yuyao to organize the funeral.After the funeral，Wang Hua strictly urged Wang Yangming to study during the period of Ding You.

35.王华让自己的堂弟王冕、王阶、王宫，以及妹婿牧相等人，与王阳明一同学习，互相讲析『四书五经』等儒家经典的含义，为日后参加科举考试做必要的准备。王阳明白天随侍叔父、姨父等攻读有关科举考试的经典书籍，晚上就搜寻经史子集、兵农杂家书籍，每天都读至深夜。

35.Wang Hua let his cousins Wang Mian，Wang Jie，Wang Gong and his brother-in-law，Mu Xiang study with Wang Yangming.They studied and analyzed the deep meaning of many classic Confucian books such as The Four Books（“The Great Learning”“The Doctrine of the Mean”“The Analects of Confucius”and“The Works of Mencius”）and Five Classics（“The Book of Songs”“The Book of History”“The Book of Changes”“The Book of Rites”and“The Spring and Autumn Annals”）.It was a necessary preparation for participating in the future imperial exams.Wang Yangming read the classic books with his uncles in the daytime，and searched for the subsets of history，military and peasant books in the evening.He read till late at night everyday.

36.一段时间后，王阳明的文章写作水平突飞猛进，令叔父、姨父们大吃一惊，自愧不如。王阳明不仅学会了写八股文，还学会了其他各种文体。他不肯受古人思想的束缚，而是喜欢以自己的真实心情去写文章。他这种随心所求的学习方法，让他的写作水平远远超过常人。

36.After a period of time，Wang Yangming made huge and rapid progress in his writing.His uncles were surprised and humbled.Wang Yangming not only learned to write stereotyped essay，but also various styles of articles.He was not willing to be bound by the thoughts of the ancient scholars when he wrote the articles，but would rather write the articles with his true feelings.This learning method made his writing ability better than the ordinary people's at that time.

37.弘治五年（1492），21岁的王阳明顺利通过了浙江乡试，考中了举人。随后又到北京居住，准备来年的会试。会试考中了的人，叫作进士，朝廷可以赋予职位，然后正式进入仕途。王阳明对来年的会试十分用心，读书通常读到半夜。

37.In the fifth Ming Hongzhi's reign year（1492），Wang Yangming，21，passed the Zhejiang Provincial Examination successfully.Then he moved to Beijing and prepared for the metropolitan examination in the next year.The person who passed this examination was called Jinshi，and would be able to get a position in the court，a formal entering to a political career.Wang Yangming nearly devoted all his time and energy into this examination.He always read books till the midnight.

38.第二年，王阳明参加会试，却名落孙山。当时的文坛领袖、内阁大学士李东阳鼓励他说：『汝今科不第，来科必为状元，试作《来科状元赋》。』王阳明提笔铺纸，一挥而就。李东阳看完，拍案叫好。

38.In the next year，Wang Yangming took this examination，but unfortunately failed.At that time，Li Dongyang，the leader of the literary world and a senior member of the Cabinet，encouraged him，“Though you fail this time，you will get the first place next time.You can try to write an article called‘Being the Top Next Time’.”Wang Yangming wrote the article afterwards，neatly and swiftly.After reading it，Li Dongyang was impressed，and applauded for him.

39.三年后，王阳明再次参加会试，由于某些人作梗，他又一次落第了。不少人来安慰他，王阳明却说：『世以不得第为耻，吾以不得第心动为耻。』在他看来，中进士不能算是做人的第一等事，只有『读书学圣贤』才是第一等事。

39.Three years later，Wang Yangming took the metropolitan examination again.Because of some people who put obstacles in the way，he failed again.Many people comforted him.Wang Yangming said，“People are ashamed of the person who cannot be the first place in the imperial examination，but I am ashamed of being affected by failing this examination.”In his view，being the top of the imperial examination and working in the court could not be regarded as the top thing，only studying harder to be a sage ranked the first.

40.会试落第后，王阳明回余姚，即与退休在家的方伯、魏瀚等一起，在龙泉寺组成一个诗社，每日以一起赋诗论文为乐。他经常与朋友们徜徉于山水之间，吟咏性情。江南的峻峰秀峦、清风白云，不仅使他心灵坦荡，也使他诗艺大进，诗名日长。连魏瀚也不得不说：『在你面前，老夫当退避三舍了。』

40.After failing the metropolitan examination，Wang Yangming returned to Yuyao.With his retired friends，Fang Bo and Wei Han，he formed a poetry club in Longquan Temple，enjoying the time of writing poems and discussing articles every day.He often strolled around in the nature with his friends，singing and writing poetry that contained his true feelings.The peaks in Jiangnan region，the fresh air and white clouds，not only made him broadminded，but also improved his poem writing skills and increased his fame of being a poet.Even Wei Han，a famous poet，had to admit，“In front of you，I can not claim that I am good.”

41.王阳明日日沉浸于诗词歌赋之中，虽然写诗的技巧长进了，但与自己的初衷背道而驰。为了『学做圣人』，他离开了余姚的诗社，离开了那班吟诗作赋的朋友，重新回到了北京。

41.Wang Yangming was immersed in poetry every day，although his technique of writing poetry had improved，it was contrary to his original intention.In order to learn to be a sage，he left his friends of the poetry club in Yuyao，and returned to Beijing again.

42.那时，王阳明还对兵法产生了浓厚的兴趣。他搜罗各种传世的兵法秘笈，进行系统地研究，一边阅读一边做批注，写下自己的心得。每当客人来访，他会兴奋地用花生、瓜子在桌子上布列兵阵。他一边布阵演示，一边给客人讲解，往往沉浸其中，眉飞色舞，旁若无人。

42.At that time，Wang Yangming also developed a strong interest in the art of war.He collected various extant books about the art of war.He researched it systemically，by reading books and taking notes as well as writing down his own thoughts.Whenever a visitor arrived，he would excitedly explain to the guests the art of war by using peanuts and melon seeds to demonstrate the formation of army on the table.He indulged in his own world and acted as no one was watching.

43.弘治十二年（1499）三月初，王阳明第三次参加会试，终于夺得了会魁。接着，在皇帝主持的殿试中，考中二甲第七名。

43.In the beginning of March of the 12th Ming Hongzhi's reign year（1499），Wang Yangming took the metropolitan examination for the third time，and finally got the first place in this examination.Then，in the final imperial examination hosted by the emperor，he got the seventh place.